'Professor,' Sirius said. 'That's not James.' James was staring at "James" who was now watching Sirius as if he was insane. Sirius honestly didn't care what the Death Eater thought of him. James was back. Or, at least he thought he was. It was sort of hard to tell, since he didn't remember anything. And he didn't know that he didn't remember anything. But Sirius thought it was James, and that had to count for something.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. 'Mr Black, if this is some sort of-'
'Professor,' Sirius snapped. 'This is not a joke.' Sirius only ever joked about James, with James. Or perhaps Remus. Dumbledore was neither.
Dumbledore's white eyebrows drew together as he pulled his wand out of his sleeve. 'Neither of you are to leave this bar without my consent,' he said firmly. James recoiled, moving closer to Sirius. 'Try and you will be stopped.' Sirius didn't doubt that in the slightest. Dumbledore waved his wand and a silvery Phoenix fluttered out of it. 'Inform Horace of my location and have him bring me a vial of Veritaserum. Alastor.'
'Wands,' Moody growled, flinging his hand out at James and the Death Eater. James looked up at Moody puzzled, and also a little afraid.
Sirius nudged James. 'Give him your stick.' Reluctantly, James passed it over.
Moody took "James'" wand as well and held the two of them up. 'They're the same,' he muttered. Sirius snorted. Clearly one of them was a copy. Moody tapped them both with his own wand. A weak silvery shape floated out of the Death Eater's. 'Drying Charm,' he muttered, his blue eyes flicking to the Death Eater. James' wand screamed loudly. Sirius' face paled; it sounded like James himself was screaming. 'Cruciatus Curse,' Moody said, fixing both of his eyes on James. 'That's illegal, boy.'
James frowned. 'Then why...?' Both Dumbledore and Moody were watching him with cold expressions. Sirius put a hand on James' shoulder and was saddened to feel him flinch at the contact. What had those bastards done to him?! 'I can't say I'm surprised,' James muttered finally. 'It hurts.' Sirius coughed to hide a laugh. Typical James. 'What?' James said, looking at Dumbledore's shocked face. 'It does.'
Moody's frown deepened. 'You say this is Potter?' he asked Sirius.
'Yes, sir,' Sirius said with more confidence than he had had five minutes ago.
The Death Eater glared at Sirius. 'I'm James Potter,' he said stubbornly.
'And I suppose you're James Potter too?' Moody asked James. James nodded, looking confused. It was then Sirius realised that James probably didn't know what he looked like, and so didn't realise the significance of "James'" appearance. Sirius suppressed a groan; this was going to be harder than he thought.
'Sit down, please,' Dumbledore said, giving James a troubled smile. 'And stay where you are,' he said, giving the Death Eater the same smile.
James looked at Sirius for help. 'Sit down, boy,' Moody growled impatiently, forcing James into a chair. James made a funny whimpering sound, clutching at his side. 'Sorry,' Moody said. His face was still hard, but Sirius thought he meant it.
'Don't worry about it,' James muttered, still massaging it.
'Mr Black, if you'd take a seat,' Dumbledore said calmly. 'We might need your insight.' Sirius pulled a chair over and plopped down next to James in what he hoped was an obvious gesture about where his allegiance lay. He alternated between grinning at James and glaring at the Death Eater, who glared right back.
'When's your birthday?' Dumbledore asked pleasantly.
'Twenty-seventh of March,' "James" said promptly. Sirius shot him a dirty look.
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully, glancing at James. 'I don't know, sir.' Sirius sighed.
'Parents' names?'
'Dorea and Charlie.'
'Charlus,' James corrected absently. Sirius beamed. Dumbledore and Moody shared a look.
'Where did we first meet?' Moody asked.
'Last Hogsmeade Weekend,' the boy said. Sirius frowned; only he, Lily, Remus, Peter and the real James knew about that... then he realised Moody had probably said something to "James" about it before he got there.
'Just now?' James said, looking worried. Dumbledore frowned.
'Professor?' Sirius said, taking pity on his friend. 'Do you mind if I ask the questions? I know him better.' Dumbledore nodded, much to Moody's obvious surprise; the Auror's eyebrows shot up into his hairline.
'Favourite colour and why?' Sirius said. He'd already asked James this, and it certainly wasn't common knowledge; who'd guess that James Potter, star of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, would like green? James had never told anyone but Sirius that he liked green because it was the colour of Lily's eyes.
'Red and gold,' the Death Eater said uncertainly. 'Because it's the colour of Gryffindor.' Sirius snorted. Wrong. Red and Gold were his favourite colours, not James'.
'Green,' James said. Sirius grinned. James thought for a moment. 'I don't know why.' Sirius' face fell, realising this probably meant he didn't remember Lily either.
'Favourite animal?'
'Lion.' Sirius rolled his eyes.
'A stag,' James answered hesitantly. Sirius grinned, nodding at Dumbledore and Moody. 'Why are you asking me these questions?'
'To find out if you're you. What do you want to do when you finish school?' Sirius asked, knowing Dumbledore knew the answer to this one.
'I still go to school?!' James half-shouted, looking alarmed. The Death Eater sniggered.
'Yes,' Dumbledore said slowly, glancing curiously at Moody, who shrugged. 'Are we on holidays?' James demanded.
'Er... no,' Sirius said, a little thrown by the question.
'I want to be an Auror,' the Death Eater said.
James' face had become panicked and thoughtful all at once. Sirius was sure he was counting back the days since he was captured. Or at least, counting the days he remembered of his capture. 'How much have I missed?' he whispered finally, staring at Sirius.
'I've got notes to give you,' Sirius muttered back. 'Just answer the bloody question.'
'No,' James said in an oddly dead voice. He blinked, shaking his head. 'Sorry,' he muttered, looking confused again, 'I don't know why I said that. After school... Erm... I haven't given it much thought,' James said, his mouth turning down. His eyes glazed over, and Sirius wondered what he was thinking about. 'I-I think I'd like to stop Voldemort. He seemed like a bit of a prat.' Sirius laughed. Dumbledore stared at him, eyes twinkling. James flushed suddenly. 'I'd like to get married, too, I think' he said.
'Anyone in mind?' Sirius said with a grin that hid how nervous he was; he wanted to know if James remembered Lily.
'No idea,' the Death Eater said. James shrugged as well, and Sirius' face fell for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.
* * *
'I don't know!' Peter squeaked, trying to hide his exasperation. 'Sirius just said to get you and Moony.'
'Where are they?' Lily demanded, eyes flashing.
'He was here with James.' Lily's eyes widened at that, though Peter wasn't sure why.
'With James?' Lily said, sharing a look with Remus. Peter nodded. 'Where was James meeting Dumbledore?' Lily said sharply.
Peter just managed not to roll his eyes. He liked Lily most of the time, but she could be bloody annoying. 'The Hog's Head. Or the Three Broomsticks,' he added as an afterthought. He wasn't really sure; Rookwood had been quite vague about the whole thing.
'I'll check the Three Broomsticks,' Remus said in a voice that could only be described as urgent. 'You two go to the Hog's Head. Whoever doesn't find Sirius goes to the other place, all right?'
Lily nodded and took off down the street, while Remus hurried away in the other direction. Peter jogged after Lily. 'Why are you in such a hurry?' he panted.
'You said Sirius needed us,' Lily said. He didn't think she was lying, but he was certain she had left something out as well. 'He wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important.' Peter disagreed. Sirius was the most dramatic of all of them and prone to making a big deal out of nothing. He didn't voice this opinion though.
Both of them were red-faced and out of breath when they reached the Hog's head. Lily threw her weight against the door and stumbled in, Peter at her heels.
'Lily!' Sirius said, waving them over. Peter couldn't quite place his expression. He was looking frustrated, amused, and upset all at once. Lily's mouth fell open. Peter followed her gaze.
Next to Sirius was Rookwood - James' messy hair would be distinguishable anywhere - and next to him was Moody. On the other side of the table was Dumbledore and- Peter froze. James? Or were there suddenly two Rookwoods? And why was one thinner and dirtier than the other? The Rookwood next to Dumbledore met Peter's eye and in an instant he knew it was the real Rookwood. Which meant the other was James. Oh no. Oh no, no no. Sirius laughed at something James said.
'I'll get Moony, tell him you're here,' Peter told no one in particular as he dashed out the door again.
His mind was reeling as he ducked into a side-alley. Obviously they hadn't decided which James was not James and which one was so there was still hope, but it was only a matter of time before someone fetched Veritaserum and Rookwood told them everything. Peter's cover would be blown. He'd be of no use to the Dark Lord anymore, and Sirius, James, Remus and Lily would hate him. He'd have no one. He'd be weak. Rookwood would be of no value either. He'd be killed. Unless Peter could get him out.
With the snow swirling around his face, Peter drew his wand, tapped his forearm to remove the glamour, and then pressed his wand-tip to the tattoo branded there.